Daegu 대구

Depending on which Romanized spelling you use this city is called Daegu or Taegu. Officially the city changed the Romanization to Daegu prior to the Summer Olympics of 1988 (many names were changed at that time to standardize Romanization), but you still see it both ways.  Daegu literally means large hill.  It is the third largest city in South Korea, but area wise it is larger than Seoul.  It is much more spread out, making it fill a little more manageable (not so crazy as the megatropolis of Seoul!).

We were hoping we would see some cherry blossoms (since Seoul wasn't quiet read for spring).  We saw some on the drive down, but Daegu itself was already leafing - no blooms in sight.

Cherry trees in bloom lining the tollway.

Greenhouses.  Much of Korean produce is grown in greenhouses so they have fresh produce year round.

There are many things to see and do in Daegu.  We hiked, shopped, explored, played, and managed not to get lost.  We saw a parking maid, which looked like a google maps car, out snapping photos of license plates(I really wanted a photo, but I was driving at the time).  We visited the Jungangno subway station, the location of the infamous train fire which claimed nearly 200 lives.  It was even warm enough we went to the pool!  Granted it was indoor (as in a greenhouse) but all the windows were open.  If felt like summer.

The view from our hotel room at the Novotel.

Out exploring the Daegu nightlife.

Our bathroom!  The first room is the shower. Obviously the designer is not a woman from a house full of boys!

A crane below the falls of Sincheon River

The hotel bidet.  Most western toilets have bidets here.



hmm... who's up for trying out the bidet?

I have yet to figure out what the zig zag yellow line means.

Yeongnam Jeil Gwanmun, reconstructed south gate in Daegu.

Our "Korean room" at our second hotel with ondul (heated floor), which had our room at a stifling 80+ degrees!